Vessel-raising device



J. SZALAY.

VESSEL RAISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 21, 1921.

1-,395,875. Patented Nov. 1, 19 21. I

4 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Has eph Szalay ATTORNEY WITNES:

J. SZALAY.

' VESSEL RAISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR 21, 1921.

1 $95,875, I Patented Nov. 1 2 1.

4 SHEETS-SHE 5 rfoseph Szata 43m ATTORNEY WITNESQ:

J. SZALAY.

' VESSEL RAISING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21, 1921.

1,395,875. Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

' 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Joseph SzaLay INVENTDR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES JOSEPH SZALAY, OF VICKSBURG, MISSISSIPPI.

VESSEL-RAISING DEVICE.

Application filed March 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH SZALAY, residing at Vicksburg, in the county of Warren and State of Mississippi, have invented new and useful Improvements in Vessel- Raising Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for ships, the principal object of the invention being to provide a float which will remain on the surface after the ship is sunk so as to indicate the spot where the ship has sunk.

Another object of the invention is to place signal means on the float for attracting the attention of other ships thereto.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the attachment of a cable to the sunken ship will be facilitated by the device.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the invention in use. I

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional View through the invention showing the float upon its support.

Fig. 3 is an elevation of the support.

Fig. l is a view of the float.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the support showing how it is connected with the ship.

Fig. 6 is an edge view of the means for attaching a cable to the ship.

Fig. 7 is a front view of such means and showing the same engaging with the spider of the float support.

Figs. 8 and 9 are detail views.

In these views A indicates a ship to which the float support 1 is attached. This support is of cylindrical shape with manholes 2 formed at its lower end, providing access to the interior thereof. This cylinder is bolted to a spider 3 and this spider is in turn connected with the ship by bolts passing through its flanges 4 and by a long bolt 5 which passes through the center of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Serial No. 454,070.

spider and through the deck of the ship. The head of this bolt 5 is provided with an eye 6 for receiving one end of the cable 7. The lower end of the cylinder is also provided with flanges 8 which receive bolts to secure the support to the deck. The upper end of the support is provided with the vertical slots 9 which form tongues 10 at the upper end of the support, the upper part of each tongue being cut away to make the tongue pointed and the pointed parts of said tongues are bent outwardly so as to make the upper part of the support of flaring shape to receive the float 11. This float is of the shape of a spinning top and has an eye 12 at its lower end which is adapted to receive the other end of the cable 7. A supporting frame 13 is connected with the top of the float and this frame supports the bell 14 and has arms 15 thereon which are provided with the sockets 16 for receiving the flags 17.

It will be understood that the support, which includes the cylinder 1 and the spider 3, is secured to any desired part of the top deck of the ship. The cable 7 is coiled in the cylinder and rests upon the spider, the float resting in the flared top of the. cylinder. If the ship should sink the float will stay upon the surface or will rise to the sur face if the ship should sink faster than the cable will play out, but the float remains attached to the ship by means of said cable 7. The action of the waves on the float will cause the bell 14 to ring so that this bell and the flags will attract the. attention of other ships coming within the vicinity of the sunken ship.

I also provide means for attaching a cable to the sunken ship, such means consisting of a member 18 which carries spindles 19 at its lower end which are transversely arranged and one pair of which are adapted to receive the two pairs of jaws 20 which are arranged to engage the spider. These jaws are held upon the spindle by means of the bent plates 21 which are bolted to the member 18 and have holes therein engaging the spindles. The jaws 20 are each formed with a slot 22 and a pin 23 for limiting the inward movement of the jaws. Each jaw is also provided with a beveled end 24; which is adapted to strike the spider and thus cause the jaw to swing" outwardly to permit the slot 22 to engage with the spider. The upper end of member 18 is formed with an eye 25 to re Patented Nov. 1, 1921. i

ceive the pulling cable 26 and with an eye 27, with which the upper end of the passage 28 communicates. This passage extends longitudinally through the member 18 and has its lower end opening out at the bottom of the member. lhis passage and eye 27 receive the cable 7. A plate 29 is connected with the member 18 and this plate has a hole therein to receive oneend of a small cable 30, the other end of which is connected with cable 26.

Nhen it is desired to raise the sunken ship the wrecking crew will detach the up per end of cable 7 from the float and thread said cable through passage 28 and eye 27. Member 18 is then permitted to slide down the cable until the jaws strike the spider and swing open and lock together on the spider. The small'cable 30 will prevent the member 18 from rotating. As soon as the cable 26 is pulled upon to raise the ship, cable 30 will break. Cable 26 is attached to a suitable Windlass or other device for guidin said cable to raise the sunken ship.

lhe spindles 19 will engage the pointed ends of tongues 10 and will thus be guided into slots 9 and said slots will cause the member 18 to assume a position where the beveled ends of the jaws will strike one of the cross bars of the spider and thus open and lock to said spider.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement 01 the several parts, provided that such changes fall within 7 the scope of the appended claims:

V7 hat I claim is 1. A device of the class described comprising a float support, means for connecting the same to a ship, guiding means at the upper end of the float support, a float adapted to rest in the support and to engage a part of the guiding means, a cable connecting the lower end 0;? the float with a part of the sup-- port and coiled in said support, a lifting member adapted to engage a part of the support, means for guiding the said member to the support by means of the cable, a cable connected with said lifting member and a part on said lifting member for engaging the guiding means of the support.

2. A device of the class described comprising a cylinder, a spider therein, means for connecting the spider and the cylinderto a ship, the upper end of the cylinder being flared and having guiding slots therein, a float resting in said upper end,'a cable connecting the lower end of the fioat to the spider, a jaw carrying member havinga passage therein for receiving the cable so that said member may slide down the cable, projections on said member for engaging the guiding slots, jaws on said member for engaging a part of the spider and a cable connected with the upper end of said jaw carrying member.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

Josern SZALAY. 

